Electric controlling device for elevators



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. E. NIOKERSON.

ELEGTRIG CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS. No. 403,440. Patented May 14,1889.

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N. PETERS. Pholwlnhogophcr. wmhm mn. D. c.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W. E. NICKERSON. ELECTRIC CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

Patented May 14, 1889.

WITN'ESEEIE N. PETERS, PimwLMnphcr. Wnlhnmlon. D10.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VlhLlAM E. NTCKERSON, ()F CAMBRIDGE, Ml-\SSi-'\Clll SE'l"llS.

ELECTRIC CONTROLL|NG DEVICE FOR ELEVATORS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,440, dated May 14,1889.

Application filed March '7, 1889. Serial No. 302,248. (No model.)

To (LZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, \VILLIAM EMERY NICK- ERSON, of Cambridge, in thecounty of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have i11- vented certainnew and useful Improvements in Electric Controlling Devices forElevators, of which the following, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings,is a specification.

My invention relates to a device located within the elevator carriage,consisting of moving electric contact-plates operated by the movement ofand moving in perfect unison with the elevator-carriage, and a switchelectrically connected to the electric controlling devices, said switchbeing set by the attendant and adapted to remain stationary and keep acircuit closed until one of the moving electric contact-plates hastraversed beyond the contact-point of the switch.

I have illustrated my invention by the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a vertical section, showing such parts of an elevator as arerequired to illustrate the position and general arrangement of mydevice. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken through the switch-box,showing the indexdrum in full. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of theswitchbox, a part being broken away to show the transmittinggear. Fig. 4is a view in perspective showing the more important details. Fig. 5 is aside elevation (enlarged) of the movable contact-block. Fig. 6 is adiagram which illustrates the movement of the contact-plate block inrelation to the movement of the carriage and of the indexelectrode.

In Fig. 1 I have shown, partly in outline and partly in sect-ion, anelevator-well room, A, floors A A A A, a carriage, B, having ahoisting-rope, B, and electric cable B M M and H H indicate in aconventional manner two electric devices. One, H H, is intended tooperate that part of the controlling mechanism that effects the ascentof the carriage, and the other, M M, is intended to operate that part ofthe controlling mechanism that effects the descent of the carriage.

D indicates the switch-box, and the dotted circle D the position of theindex-drum.

C and 0 Fig. 1, are ropes, one end of each of which is attached to theindex-drum D. (See Figs. 1, 2, and 3.) One of these ropes-O, forinstance-should have a yielding connec tion, C, to a stationary part.The other may be fixed rigidly, as at C Fig. 1.

The fixed ropes O and C are so coiled around the index drum D, whichmoves bodily with the carriage B, that when the carriage moves up ordown the index-drum must turn in one direction (that of the arrow) whenthe carriage ascends and in the opposite direction when the carriagedescends.

The transmitting device, that connects the index-drum Dwith the movingcontact-plate block E, (see Figs. 2, 3, and 4,) is shown in Fig. 2, andconsists of a shaft, D having upon it a beveled gear, D The beveled gearD acting through the gear D shaft D and worm D, (see Figs. 2 and 3,)operates the worm-gear D and through it the shaft D and contactplateblock E, (in this case a disk.)

I have arranged the transmitting device so that when theelevator-carriage makes its whole passage the block E will makeonefourth of a full rotation in the direction of the arrow, Figs. 3, 4,and 6, when the carriage ascends, and in a direction opposite to thearrow when the carriage descends-that is, the block E will make a partrotation forth and back of ninety degrees as the carriage ascends anddescends. As the carriage ascends, the block E will move so that itspoint marked 4' will move to the point 1 on the indexring F, Fig. 6, andas the carriage descends the point marked 4 on the block E is taken backto the point marked -1 on the indexring, whence it started.

The index-electrode K may be moved by the attendant a half-circlethatis, from the point 1 to -4 on the indexa'ing F.

The contact-plate block E is made in the form of a disk, and has upon ittwo contactplates, one of which, H, is connected by the friction-plate Hand wire H. with the electric device H Il-that is, the one used forascendingand the other contact-plate, M", is con nected by thefriction-plate M and wire M with the electric device M M, used fordescending.

K, Figs. 2, 3, and i, is an electrode made in the form of anindex-pointer, and for convenience I will call it an index-electrode. Itis connected through the bracket K by a wire, P, to one pole of both ofthe electric devices.

The index-electrode K is hung by a swiveljoint to the bracket K Figs. 2,3, and 4, and has a friction-plate, k, a set-nut, 1c, and a handwheel, K,,by means of which the attendant canjset it at any desired point.

The index-electrode K has a contact-point, 10 (see Figs. 2 and 4,) whichrests upon and makes electric connection with one of the contact-platesH or M, that it is set over. The index-electrode K has also aknife-shaped projection, F (see Figs. 4 and 5,) which serves to hold itsteadily in the position that the attendant has placed it, it being heldby one of the notches F formed in the plates F on the index-ring F. (SeeFigs. 4, 5, and 6.) These plates F are made adjustable-that is, thescrews S S, by which they are attached to the index-ring F, pass throughslots, as shown in Fig. 5.

The operation of my device is as follows: The carriage being at thebottom-i. e., first fioorthe contact -block E will stand (see Figs. 4and 6) with its division marked +4 opposite the division on theindex-rim g marked +4. Now, if the attendant turns the indexelectrode Kto the point +4 on the indexring F, it will cause the contact-point k tomake an electrical connection with the contact-plate H and through itand the springplate H and wire H to the electric device H H, completingthe circuit through the wire P, bracket K and index-electrode K, andcausing the electric device H H to operate the device that causes thecarriage to ascend. The upward movement of the carriage will continueuntil the contact-block E has been rotated by the movement of thecarriage acting through the ropes C and C and the indexdrum D, as hasbeen explained, so far as to carry the contact-plate H out from underthe contact-point K Again, if we suppose the carriage to be at thebottom or first floor, and 'we wish to go to the second floor, theattendant turns the index-electrode K to the division numbered +2 on theindex-ring. This will cause the electric connection to be made, asbefore, and the carriage will start up. Turning the contact-block E inthe direction of the arrow, the carriage will continue to ascend untilit, acting through the ropes 0 0 will cause the contact-block E torotate until the end of the contact-plate H has passed from under theindex-electrode K and broken the circuit, thus causing the carriage tostop. If, instead of the second floor, we had wished to go to the third,then the index-electrode H would have been placed on the division marked+3 on the index-ring F. If the carriage is at the top, then thecontact-block E will stand with the division +4 on the contact-blockopposite the division -4 on the index-ring F, and to cause the carriageto descend, the index-electrode K is moved around to the division 1 onthe index-ring. This will cause the contact-point k on theindex-electrode K to come in electrical connection with the contwt-plateM and through it and the spring-plate M and wire M put the motor M M incircuit through the wire P, bracket K and index-electrode K, thusstarting the carriage downward. This motion of the carriage willcontinue until the carriage has reached the lower floor, at which timethe rotation of the contact-block E will have carried the contact-plateM out from under the contact-point I0 and the circuit will be broken.

From the above it may be seen that by turning the index-electrode to theproper point'on the index-ring the carriage can'be directed from onefloor to any other, and that the attendants strength and skill will bebut slightly taxed.

I claim- 1. In an electrically-controlled elevator, the combination ofcontact-plates within the carriage, connected to electric devices andadapted to move in relation to an index the same as the carriage movesin relation to the floors, with anindeX-electrode adapted to be set bythe attendant, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

' 2. In an electrically-controlled elevator, the combination of theropes O and C index-drum D, a transmitting mechanism, and thecontact-plate block E and contact-plates M H with the index F andindex-electrode K, all electrically connected, substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 5th day of March,

WILLIAM E. NIOKERSON. Witnesses:

FRANK G. PARKER, MATTHEW M. BLUNT.

